It’s simply amazing how all over the place rumors of Apple’s next handset have become -- what’s news one morning often gets snuffed out later that day with a completely contradictory rumor. Such is the case with the iPhone 5, which may miss its fall debut completely due to production delays.

9to5Mac has compiled a number of new iPhone rumors that should probably be taken with a grain of salt, as we often advise all such rumblings be handled. With that in mind, the website claims there will indeed be two different iPhone models introduced in October as widely rumored -- one that’s essentially an upgraded version of the current iPhone 4, alongside a new “teardrop-shaped iPhone 5” that may not be available right away.

“We’ve heard the low-end model, which is essentially an iPhone 4 look-alike (glass front and back), is rolling off the assembly line in big numbers right now,” 9to5Mac notes. “Apple expects to have 10+ million of these things on hand for launch and full ramped production into the holiday shopping season.  These will be priced aggressively and be everywhere.”

The website also notes this iPhone 4 refresh will mark Apple’s first venture into the prepaid world here in the U.S., but also be available with the same two-year contract we’re all used to. However, on the subject of the iPhone 5, there’s some good news and potentially bad news.

“It appears that the tear-drop shaped iPhone 5 with larger screen and thinner, rounder body is seeing continued design and production delays, at least on one assembly line (Apple has multiple production sources -- Pegatron, Foxconn, etc),” the report continues. “We therefore think that iPhone 5 will be delayed slightly at the very least and may see shortages all the way into 2012.”

On the better news front, the iPhone 5 is apparently “a sight to behold” with a camera to rival even the better point and shoot models, which Apple will likely use as a major selling point for the new model, particularly since the iPhone 4 has become one of the most popular cameras on sites such as Flickr.

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